Los Angeles Clippers’ rookie forward Blake Griffin will spend the next three to four weeks resting a strain to his right shoulder which he incurred in the third game of the Clippers’ five game Las Vegas Summer League schedule last week. Griffin, named the League’s Most Outstanding Player, went on to average 19.2 points and 10.8 rebounds.

Griffin will maintain his normal lower body training and conditioning regimen, and will be further evaluated regularly. He was examined and diagnosed Tuesday by Clippers’ team physician Dr. Steven Shimoyama. A second examination today by Los Angeles-based specialist Dr. Lewis Yocum confirmed the earlier diagnosis and suggested protocol.

As a precaution, Griffin will be held out of the USA Basketball National Team Mini-Camp to which he was invited and which starts today in Las Vegas.

How refreshing it is to see that he came back and played the last games even with the strained shoulder. This show you he puts it all on the line and he’s no quitter. Griffin is going to be a refreshing change.

clipsamba

Change has to happen FIRST at the management level. If they continue to nurture the same failed culture, no one can save this team.

yep

Let’s just hope he’s not injury prone.

Me

An injury prone Clipper? Never…

J’Rock

“Several league sources said Wednesday that they believed the New York Knicks had abandoned their pursuit of Bucks restricted free agent guard Ramon Sessions, leaving the Clippers as the prime candidate for the 23-year-old. The Oklahoma City Thunder has a tangential interest, according to sources, but is not believed to be seriously pursuing Sessions.”

Stian

Man, if we could pick up Ramon Sessions for 5/34 in a S&T and have the Bucks take back the expiring deals of Telfair and Ricky Davis plus a future 2nd rounder I’d be over the moon.

Clipper Speakeasy

Can’t trade Telfair, Madsen or Smith as part of a package until 9/20/09. Might be able to do it for Ricky Davis and Mardy Collins – that would allow Sessions a starting salary around $5.3M (125% of Davis and Collins combined salary). Could throw in Mike Taylor too if necessary to give Sessions additional $$ in year 1. Otherwise, an immediate sign and trade would require using a big chunk of the $7.3M trade exception from the Z-Bo trade.

http://www.johnpezzetti.com John

I don’t see any advantage for the Bucks to do a S&T for davis, collins, taylor. Wouldn’t it be in their best interest just not to match?

And, lets not forget, Mardy Collins is currently a very important piece on this team. Feels funny doesn’t it.

Clipper Speakeasy

Probably. Just laying out the S&T options.

Clipper Speakeasy

Link? This NY Post article speculates the opposite – the Clips dropped out after getting Telfair. Now, the Knicks as the only real bidder left, are taking their time and not bidding against themselves:

Im not surprised. He was playing ridiculous minutes when he should’ve been pulled out. Dunleavy drives his players into the court…thats why the team is injured half the time!

Q.D.

I believe the injury happened in the 3rd game. I don’t think Dunleavy could be faulted for this one.

Chris.

The Clipper injuries happen because of the trainer, who also apparently thinks he is a doctor and tells the coach and the players when it is OK for them to play again, rather than the doctor who approved many of the Clipper player’s to play over the years.

clipsamba

Agree. Dunleavy misused Shaun Livingston as well.

Stian

Can the basketball gods PLEASE, PLEASE cut us a break just once?!

Can us poor, throttled Clipper fans enjoy the talents of Blake Griffin without him turning into the second coming of Shaun Livingston?

Is that really asking too much……..?

P.S.: Why did Blake play in 2 more games when he got hurt in game 3?! – AAARRGGHH!

Chris.

He wasn’t really hurt and he’ll be fine for training camp and for the season. He is the #1 pick and our hopes, don’t take this report as anything other than that.

http://www.johnpezzetti.com John

Yes Dunleavy has his faults but he’s not going to play an injured Blake Griffin for two more games in summer camp if there is any real risk

http://2-on-1break.blogspot.com mandru

no matter how “minor” the injury is… this makes me nervous…

http://firedunleavy.com FireDunleavy .com

I think the Clippers don’t really want Griffin playing in the USA mini-camp and told the doctor to make something up. He’ll still be able to make the National team anyway.

an OU fan

FireDunleavy…I could def see that as a possibility..
Although..strains like this aren’t rare..just a precaution.
Griffin wants to contribute no matter what..At OU after receiving a concussion..he still wanted to go out. And after a few games of sitting. He came out diving over the scorers table to save a loose ball
And when a guy body slammed him over the shoulder..he didn’t say a word..didn’t even look at him.
..Congrats Clippes fans You got an intelligent hard working rookie!

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=510076425&ref=profile uk_clip

whilst this is a little frustrating, i recall Eric Gordon picked up a couple of injuries last summer and went on to play 81 games or something, so its not a major panic by any means.

It’s starting to look as though Milwaukee restricted free agent Ramon Sessions might have to settle for an offer that does not start at the full midlevel exception price of $5.9 million, with sources insisting that the Knicks are no longer chasing Sessions and that Oklahoma City is reluctant to use any of its salary-cap space to pursue the point guard.

The Clippers remain highly interested in Sessions. There are persistent rumblings that they prefer him to Allen Iverson in every category apart from box-office appeal. The Bucks, meanwhile, remain prepared to match offers on Sessions … to a point.

We should soon learn how far the Clips are willing to go with an offer sheet. If Sessions proves unable to land an offer that starts in midlevel territory, Milwaukee will be much more of a threat to match, which would spare the Bucks from asking too much of Brandon Jennings in his rookie season.

The Clips tried to initiate sign-and-trade talks with Milwaukee to land Sessions, but the Bucks maintain that they’re not interested in L.A.’s newly acquired Sebastian Telfair.

ACD

everyone gets injured– it’s the NBA.

jon y

sessions as the clips pg of the future would be fuckin amazing. been checkin espn and real gm every few hours the last couple of days waiting/hoping to see the clips sign sessions to an offer sheet.

Asin

What’t the hold up on an offer sheet? The longer the Clippers wait, the more free agents get signed. They still have to wait 7 days for the Bucks to match, get on with it already, goddamnit!

cdrumz

Indeed. Even Stinger Bell says, “Get on with it muthaf**kahs!!”

cdrumz

*cough StRinger *cough *cough

cdrumz

StRinger! *cough *cough

TNT57

There was no point to playing Griffin as much as they did. Why? They didn’t see enough in the first 2 games? Stupid.

http://www.firedunleavy.com FireDunleavy .com

They need him to put up big numbers to build up hype. They want him on sports center to get more pub, sell a few more tickets. It’ll also make the team look better if you’re trying to convince a free agent to sign.

EricGordonsAnkleBrace

Griffin must be hanging out with the Clipper training staff – – – the worst in the league!!! If you can’t keep a 240 lb. ball of lean man muscle like Maggette healthy you are pathetic.

Sign sessions and williams and forget about 2010! we actually need to get players who pass the ball and defend, not more shot-takers

andrew

Marvin Williams, iirc, was drafted ahead of chris paul and deron williams. I dont think the hawks are going to give up on him yet.

Luke L.

Blake’s a horse. He’s fine, and the Clippers don’t want him getting worn out w/ two weeks of Team USA tryouts. Professional franchises use phantom injuries as excuses to get their key players out of non-vital obligations (e.g., All-Star Game, pre-season, etc.).

The Clips are actually handling this one pretty well. Now they just need to avoid AI…

ClippsUK

Yep, if there is any sort of strain or anything, even if it’s minor, they aren’t gonna wanna risk him. Like you said, happens in all sports.

I’m happy they are taking this precaution. Gives the right vibes to Blake that the org are looking after him too, as a prized asset.

http://firedunleavy.com FireDunleavy .com

Dunleavy’s quote about BG:
“He had improved so much in the short period of time he was with us prior to going into summer league. ”

Yep, Griffin only played well in the summer league because of the Dunce. I think another reason they don’t want Griffin playing at the USA mini camp is cus they don’t want him exposed to coach K and compare him to Dunleavy.

Robert Lehrer

Message to “EricGordonsAnkleBrace:” If you recall, the Warriors’ trainers couldn’t keep Maggette healthy, either. Cory had the same injury track record in Golden State that he had in Los Angeles. In fact, Maggette is currently recovering from wrist surgery.